Taking passport photos ourselves - any tips?

[v.t.]

We are applying for passports next week and I thought we would save a little money if we took the pictures ourselves. (5 x $15 adds up quick) Anyone do this and what are some suggestions?
TIA!

 

[Straitlover]

If you don't want to do them yourself, I saw that either Walgreens or CVS has them for $7.99 this week. Better than $15!

 

[DVCBELLE]

I took them for my sister's family last year - and they all didn't work b/c the background was not white enough!! It is really hard to get it right.

We used this website which helps you with the template - just make sure you use a WHITE WHITE background - we used an off-white wall

http://www.epassportphoto.com/

 

[CarolAnnB]

If you print out the application, it shows you the exact size the picture has to be. I had my DDs done at CVS, they did them against a plain white screen. They were $8.99 and you could print a $2 coupon from their website if you have a CVS card, so $6.99.

 

[patchchild]

I used to take and print them for my college. Don't try it on your own. Even with all of the perfect equiptment, they are not easy to get correctly. They have to be perfectly white for the background, the head has to be exactly the right size, the face color can't be too light or too dark...

 

[bettymae1121]

If anyone in your family has long hair, make sure it's pulled back in a way that both ears are showing. They like to see your ears for some reason!

 

[horseshowmom]

My parents did theirs themselves (they just read the criteria before doing it and used a white wall or sheet) and had no problems. My husband went to Walmart for his, and the charge was several dollars. I went to the electronics section at Walmart and had mine done (just stood against the white wall). The only charge was the printing out of the photos (something like 30 cents ).

 

[lindsmom]

Beware at CVS - we had ours done there, and two of the three were almost rejected - the woman who took our applications said they have a lot of problems with CVS's pictures.

 

[JandJ]

My husband tried this years ago - even had a detailed blog about it because it's a lot harder than you'd think. He did it, but said it was such a hassle and not worth saving the $7. If you have AAA Plus they'll do it for free and there are usually deals at CVS or Wal-Mart.

 

[cole6179]

Our AAA said you had to book through them to get them free. We did ours at Walgreens. The girl did say that they were hard and had to make us pale white to get the background correct for their standards. (but if they were rejected to bring them back and they would fix for free)

Also, our Walgreen's counter had a Triaminic (the medicine) child id kit. Inside was a coupon for $2 off id photos. They were at the photo counter, but you check around the store to see if they had them. That took $8 off our total so I was happy (They are normally $7.99)

 

[v.t.]

I didn't even think about Walgreens or CVS. Just checked and they are on sale for $5.99 at Walgreens this week. You guys are the best!

 

[Tiggerish]

In this week's ad (which is usually available just inside the door or on line) there is a coupon for $2 off at Walgreens making it $5.99 plus tax. The post office wanted $15 so you could save $9 each. I had mine done this week and the Walgreen employee took it three times because he was so concerned to get it right. I took the application in the next day and had no problem.

 

[CoP Luv]

I just took my own and printed them out at home! I used http://www.epassportphoto.com and had no problems at all. I just had DH take them of me in a well lit room in our house with a neutral background. The wall wasn't white, it was light beige, but the U.S. Passport service accepted my pictures.

They print on 4x6 photo paper.

 

[onyx8]

I have done it myself 4 times - it's very easy. I use an off-white wall for the background. Not sure why others have had troubles.

 

[buckeyelabmom]

I have done it myself 4 times - it's very easy. I use an off-white wall for the background. Not sure why others have had troubles.

I agree - I did my own last summer for our passports and had no problems. I did use the website previously mentioned and then sent the photos to Walmart. They printed about 4 of the size you need in a 4 by 6 format - so it cost me about 15 cents(whatever the 4 by 6 was going for). I then cut them apart and sent the 2 they needed!

 

[funhouse8]

Don't wear your glasses, CVS took mine with my glasses and when I went to the post office she said that you can't be wearing glasses. Had to have picture retaken/

 

[Grumpy's Gal]

my DH did ours and they were great! The passport lady even said they were the best photos she'd seen in a long time. There are instructions online (very specific) if you want to take the picture yourself.

 

[ShelsGoingToDisney]

We also did them ourselves 3 years ago. Followed the instructions on the gov't passport website and had no problems. My hair is long and my ears were covered and the wall behind is a light yellow.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Did mine and the kids, didn't have problems. (We're even smiling in ours, which I later found out was a no-no. Heaven forbid you're a happy traveler! )

In addition to following stuff on the passport website, I would recommend taking the pics without a flash. (Flash usually causes shadows behind you, and the pics will be rejected. Flash too close also "blows out" your features, again- rejected.) You do have to have good lighting to do it flashless though- inside or in the shadeon a bright sunny day.

Totally agree with those who dissed CVS. I saw someone getting there one day. The clerk had turned the flash off, but the photo area was so dark, the pic was dark and blurry. Maybe they are guarenteed, but would be a pain to have to go get pic retaken, and back to the passport office!